Ford will be picking up two awards at the International CES (Consumer Electronics Show) 2010 Innovations Design and Engineering Awards for its Ford Work Solutions and SYNC system.

“Our customers want the latest in connectivity and technology – making their drive experience more enjoyable and convenient,” said Mark Fields, president, The Americas, Ford Motor Company. “We’re honored that CES has recognized our efforts in providing these customer-driven features.”

Ford Work Solutions’ in-dash computer took the 2010 Best of Innovations in the category of In-Vehicle Accessories, while the company’s SYNC applications, Traffic, Directions & Information, was honored in the category of In-Vehicle Navigation/Telematics/ITS (Intelligent Transportation System).

Click through for the press release.

Press Release:

FORD WORK SOLUTIONS AND SYNC CONNECTIVITY SYSTEMS HONORED WITH CES INNOVATION AWARDS

* Ford Work Solutions™ and SYNC® application Traffic, Directions & Information recognized with International CES Innovations Design and Engineering Awards
* Ford Work Solutions’ in-dash computer won 2010 Best of Innovations in the In-Vehicle Accessories category. The new SYNC application is an honoree in the category of In-Vehicle Navigation/Telematics/ITS
* Judged by a preeminent panel of independent industrial designers, engineers and media, the International CES Innovations 2010 Design and Engineering awards recognize outstanding design and engineering in cutting-edge consumer electronics products across 36 categories
* Ford Work Solutions and SYNC Traffic, Directions & Information will be demonstrated at the 2010 International CES, Jan. 7-10, 2010, in Las Vegas

FORD TAURUS – AMERICA’S MOST INNOVATIVE SEDAN – NAMED “OFFICIAL CAR” OF THE 2010 INTERNATIONAL CES

NEW YORK, Nov. 10, 2009 – Ford’s wide-ranging, customer-driven in-vehicle technology and features continue to gain recognition and awards from industry experts. Both Ford Work Solutions and SYNC – two Ford-exclusive technologies – will be honored with International CES (Consumer Electronics Show) 2010 Innovations Design and Engineering Awards.

Ford Work Solutions’ in-dash computer won 2010 Best of Innovations in the category of In-Vehicle Accessories. SYNC’s latest application, Traffic, Directions & Information, was honored in the category of In-Vehicle Navigation/Telematics/ITS (Intelligent Transportation System).

Products entered in this prestigious program are judged by a preeminent panel of independent industrial designers, engineers and members of the media to honor outstanding design and engineering in cutting-edge consumer electronics products across 36 categories.

The Innovations entries are judged based on the following criteria:

* Engineering qualities, based on technical specs and materials used
* Aesthetic and design qualities, using photos provided
* The product’s intended use/function and user value
* Unique/novel features that consumers would find attractive
* How the design and innovation of the product compares to other products in the marketplace

Ford Work Solutions enables greater productivity for fleets, commercial customers
Ford Work Solutions is a collection of technologies created to provide Ford commercial truck and van customers with connectivity, flexibility and security to better manage their businesses. Available on Ford F-150, F-Series Super Duty, E-Series vans and the new Transit Connect, Ford Work Solutions delivers four innovative features:

* An in-dash computer developed with Magneti Marelli and powered by Microsoft Auto that provides full high-speed Internet access via the Sprint Mobile Broadband Network, Bluetooth-enabled hands-free calling and navigation by Garmin. The first broadband-capable in-dash computer in production, the system allows customers to print invoices, check inventories and access documents stored on their home or office computer networks – right on the job site. The office is now mobile.
* Tool Link™, a Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) asset tracking system developed in association with DeWALT™, the industry leader in professional power tools, and ThingMagic, the industry expert on embedded RFID technology. This technology enables customers to maintain a detailed real-time inventory of the tools or equipment stored in the pickup box.
* Crew Chief™, a fleet tracking, telematics and diagnostics system, offered with market-leading telematics specialist Microlise, provides dynamic location and performance data fleet owners need to more efficiently manage their vehicles, quickly dispatch workers to job sites, monitor driver performance for safety and economy, and keep detailed vehicle maintenance records.
* Cable Lock security system developed in association with Master Lock®, the industry-leading lock manufacturer, discourages theft of expensive tools too large to fit in the cab.

“Ford Work Solutions is just another example of how we listen to our truck customers and deliver features and technology to help them do their jobs easier and more efficiently,” said Bill Frykman, business development manager for Ford Work Solutions. “We’ve been the leader in the segment for 32 years by delivering real-world solutions to our customers. For example, fleets using Crew Chief have experienced increases in fuel economy in excess of 20 percent.”

Keeping you connected
Ford SYNC’s latest application – Traffic, Directions & Information – leverages industry-leading voice-recognition software, integrated GPS technology and a customer’s Bluetooth-capable mobile phone. It provides simple hands-free access to personalized traffic reports, precise turn-by-turn driving directions and up-to-date information including business listings, news, sports and weather.

These new capabilities are in addition to SYNC’s established hallmark suite of services, from hands-free, voice-activated cell phone and digital media player integration to the more recent security and convenience additions of 911 Assist™ and Vehicle Health Report.

Introduced in 2007, more than 80 percent of the vehicles Ford sells in North America are equipped with SYNC, and more than 1 million SYNC-equipped vehicles are on the road today.

2010 International CES
Ford Work Solutions and SYNC with Traffic, Directions & Information will be on display at the 2010 International CES, which runs Jan. 7-10, 2010 in Las Vegas. The Innovations Design and Engineering Showcase will feature honorees by product category in the Grand Lobby of the Las Vegas Convention Center and they will also be featured at CES Unveiled: The Official Press Event of the International CES on Jan. 5.

Innovations 2010 Design and Engineering honoree products are featured on www.CESweb.org/Innovations, which lists product categories, as well as each product name, manufacturer information, designer, description, photo and URL.

The prestigious Innovations Design and Engineering Awards have been recognizing achievements in product design and engineering since 1976. It is sponsored by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA®), the producer of the International CES, the world’s largest consumer technology trade show, and endorsed by the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA), the voice of industrial design, committed to advancing the profession through education, information, community and advocacy.

- By: Stephen Calogera

FoMoCo announced today that the company’s CEO, Alan Mulally, will once again deliver the keynote address at the International CES show in Las Vegas on Jan. 7, 2010. Mulally will focus on Ford’s latest innovations and will announce new technology developments related to Ford’s popular, voice-activated SYNC technology.

“Ford continues to lead by bringing together the automobile and consumer electronics industries,” said Mulally. “At CES, we will show how Ford vehicles will become docking stations for mobile devices, thanks to our alliances with key technology players, and we will demonstrate how voice activation will be the key technology for future in-car experiences.”

“We are quite pleased to welcome him back,” CEA leader Gary Shapiro said.

Earlier this year, Mulally delivered the 1 millionth vehicle equipped with Ford Sync to Microsoft’s CEO Steve Ballmer.

Alan Mulally delivers Microsoft CEO’s 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid:

- By: Stephen Calogera

As GM’s Fritz Henderson and Chrysler’s Bob Nardelli face their career’s toughest week, Ford CEO Alan Mulally is out and about making vehicle deliveries. That’s right, FoMoCo CEO Alan Mulally headed over to Seattle today to deliver the 1 millionth vehicle, a 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid, equipped with Ford Sync to Microsoft’s CEO Steve Ballmer.

“We have made a commitment to deliver the vehicles that people really want and value,” Mulally said. “The success of SYNC is another proof point that we are doing just that. We will continue to innovate and expand the capability of SYNC by integrating even more new technologies that fit our customers’ lifestyles.”

Ballmer purchased his 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid, which the whole world (thanks to Ford’s aggressive advertising) knows by now gets a certified 41/36 mpg (city/highway), with the Ford/Microsoft Sync system that now offers 911 Assist and Vehicle Health Reports.

“More than 80 percent of the vehicles Ford sells in North America are equipped with the system,” Ford said in a statement.

Alan Mulally delivers Microsoft CEO’s 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid:

2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid:

- By: Omar Rana

Ford said today that a new study shows that its SYNC hands-free system reduces the level of driving distractions when a drive attempts to select a phone number or choose a song to play from their playlist.

The research conducted by Ford itself found that on average a driver takes his/her eyes off the road for 25 seconds when selecting a song from their MP3 player compared to 2 seconds while using SYNC.

Ford recently conducted the study with 25 regular SYNC users to compare driver performance when using SYNC.

You can read all about it in the press release after the jump.

STUDY: FORD SYNC REDUCES DRIVING DISTRACTIONS, HELPS DRIVERS KEEP EYES ON ROAD

- New Ford study shows significant differences in distraction levels for voice-controlled interfaces such as Ford SYNC™ compared to visually and manually operated handheld cell phones and music players.
- SYNC’s new 911 Assist feature adds post-crash emergency assistance while new traffic updates, directions and related driving information helps drivers save time and fuel while reducing distractions.
- Ford helped lead the industry’s development of voluntary guidelines to limit driver distraction from in-vehicle telematics and infotainment systems.

DEARBORN, Feb. 4, 2009 – A new study shows that Ford’s SYNC hands-free system significantly reduces the level of distraction when drivers select a phone number or choose a song on their MP3 player compared with the same operations with hand-held cell phones and music players.

For example, the research conducted by Ford Motor Company shows study participants spent an average of 25 seconds with their eyes-off-the-road to select a song with a handheld MP3 player compared with 2 seconds for those choosing a song using SYNC.

Ford recently completed a driving simulator study with 25 participants who are regular SYNC users to compare driver performance and eye glance behavior effects of tasks performed using SYNC’s voice interface as compared to using nomadic devices with visual-manual interfaces.

Test participants performed seven typical tasks using SYNC’s voice interface and their personal handheld phones and music players. The tasks included dialing a 10-digit number, calling a specific person from the digital phonebook, receiving a call while driving, playing a specific song, and reviewing and responding to text messages. For each task, Ford researchers measured total eyes-off-the-road time, deviation of lane position, speed variability, and object detection response time to identify differences in attentiveness and driving performance while using basic functions.

“We know people want to stay connected in their vehicles, so Ford is continuing to deliver that connectivity for them responsibly and safely,” says Susan Cischke, Ford’s group vice president of Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering. “Our SYNC research backs up what most of us instinctively know – that it is better while driving to place a call using a voice interface than dialing manually, because you can keep your hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.”

Ford’s researchers found that distraction potential for most tasks was significantly minimized when the SYNC voice interface was used as compared to the manual-entry required for handheld devices. For example, reading a text message on a handheld phone typically took the driver’s eyes off the road for 11 seconds compared to about 2 seconds when listening to the text message with SYNC’s text-to-speech output. Drivers also meandered over lane lines in more than 30 percent of trials using handheld phones and music players for song, artist, and phone book contact selection, as compared to zero percent when performing those same tasks with SYNC.

Ford’s study results are consistent with prior research, such as Virginia Tech and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s recent driving study, which followed 109 drivers for one year, including 42,300 hours of driving over two million miles. That study concluded that manually dialing a handheld device — a task that requires looks away from the road — while driving was almost 2.8 times riskier than normal driving. However, the on-the-road study showed that talking/listening on a phone while driving was no riskier than normal driving.

“These real-world results indicate that SYNC’s voice-interface offers substantial advantages compared to using a handheld device to do the same task,” says Dr. Louis Tijerina, Ford senior technical specialist.

SYNC success soars

SYNC, which recently earned Popular Mechanics’ Editor’s Choice Award for best new products at the 2009 International Consumer Electronics Show, allows consumers to connect almost any mobile phone or digital media player with their vehicle (via Bluetooth or USB connection). The driver is able to operate them by using voice commands and a steering wheel-mounted control.

The success of SYNC continues to grow. By summer 2009, Ford’s entire North American lineup will offer this technology with more than 1 million SYNC-equipped vehicles on the road by the third quarter of 2009.

Ford, working with the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, helped develop guidelines for new telematics and infotainment systems. The voluntary guidelines set limits to the eyes-off-road time required to complete visual-manual tasks. Even though SYNC is a voice-based system, its visual-manual components covered by the Alliance guidelines were tested to ensure they meet the distraction requirements.

“Ford is committed to addressing driver distraction research and testing, and implementing our findings in safety and advanced infotainment systems throughout our vehicle lines,” says John Shutko, Ford technical specialist in Human Factors and Ergonomics. “We know that customers are increasingly using telematics devices while driving their vehicles and studies show voice-activated systems like SYNC offer significant safety benefits over hand-held manual devices. If people are going to use nomadic devices, Ford Motor Company wants to offer our customers a safer way to use them, through SYNC.”

SYNC gets more safety, fuel-saving, distraction reducing features

Ford is expanding its connectivity leadership by introducing SYNC’s new 911 Assist feature that adds post-crash emergency assistance, and new traffic updates, directions and related driving information to help drivers save time and fuel while reducing distraction.

SYNC’s new “911 Assist” feature will help drivers connect with emergency assistance in the event of an air-bag deployment. When a phone is properly paired, turned on and connected to SYNC – which is designed to happen every time the driver enters the vehicle with his or her cell phone – the system will be ready to assist in placing a call to a local 911 emergency operator should an air bag-deploying accident occur.

“With SYNC, and specifically with the 911 Assist feature, we will be providing our customers an extra layer of security and peace of mind,” Cischke says.

Ford’s next-generation SYNC with Traffic, Directions and Information features leverages industry-leading voice-recognition software, integrated GPS and Bluetooth-capable phones. Debuting this spring, it will provide simple hands-free access to personalized traffic reports, precise driving directions and up-to-date information including business listings, news, sports and weather.

Customers won’t have to spend significant time with eyes off the road and hands off the wheel searching for this information on their radios, maps or other telematic devices. Driving safety can be improved when customers can retrieve this information quickly and efficiently using simple voice commands.

The new services will be available on nearly all 2010 Ford, Lincoln and Mercury models with no initial monthly subscription fees, thanks to three years of service included with a new vehicle purchase.

Besides showing off the new SYNC at the 2009 CES, Ford also showed how customers can react and interact with a vehicle’s controls and display by making voice recognition more natural and conversational. Ford’s Human Machine Interface’s (HMI) first breakthrough was the SmartGauge with EcoGuide - an innovative instrument cluster that provides real-time info that helps drivers achieve maximum fuel-efficiency from their Ford hybrids.

Now Ford is offering a sneek peak at the future of how Ford’s interior technology features could function one day. Taking SYNC to the next level with the use of configurable controls and the use of an electronic personal assistant or “avatar,” named Eva.

Eva is engaged through conversational speech and acts as a liaison connecting vehicle information with the driver’s wishes. Don’t have a friend? Ask Eva to look you up information on the internet.

Check out Eva in action after the jump.

The 2009 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is taking place right now and Ford has announced that it is taking its industry-leading SYNC technology global with an array new features. Starting 2010, Ford’s SYNC will be available in Europe, Asia Pacific and Australia.

CEO Alan Mulally along with Derrik Kuzak, group vice president of Global Product Development, were on hand to announced the set of new SYNC services which already include voice-recognition, integrated GPS technology, Bluetooth, turn-by-turn driving direction and up-to-date info including business listings, news, traffic reports, sports and weather. All features are available without the need for a built-in navigation system.

Follow the jump to read more and see a video of the new SYNC.

Launching later this summer, SYNC with Traffic, Directions and Information allows Ford owners to stay connected wherever they go. The new SYNC will be launching on all 2010 model-year Ford, Lincoln and Mercury models. Other features include: on-board text-to-speech engine, data-over-voice technology, an off-board routing engine and voice portal and text messaging.

Ford also announced that it is teaming up with Best Buy to provide SYNC users with tech support through its Geek Squad.